What's better than enjoying the fierce competition in the MLS as teams fight tooth and nail for a playoff spot? Making money off of it! The daily fantasy sports website DraftKings offers numerous contests (some starting at just $0.25) for MLS enthusiasts. Sit back and take it all in as I provide to you my value picks and sleepers for Saturday, 8/22.
Editor's Note: If you haven't played Daily Fantasy MLS / Soccer games, check out our partner DraftKings. They're hosting a one-day Fantasy MLS league this weekend.
It's FREE to enter with $1,000 up for grabs! Sign up now and we'll give you free access to RotoBaller's Ultimate NFL Full Season Pass + DFS Lineup Picks (a $99.99 value). You'll also receive a 100% bonus on your first DraftKings deposit.
DFS Soccer Goalkeepers for DraftKings
Tim Melia, Sporting KC ($4,600)
Tim Melia has consistently been one of the most valuable goalkeepers that DraftKings has to offer in their DFS MLS contests. He averages 10.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and 0.73 goals conceded per 90 minutes. His spectacular output of 2.88 saves per goal coupled with 0.55 clean sheets per 90 minutes places him firmly in the upper echelon of high-value plays. He provides dollar/fantasy point value of $438.10 , and he is one of those rare players who is simultaneously a safe play and a high-value play in daily fantasy contests.
DFS Soccer Defenders for DraftKings
Sean Franklin, DC United ($4,600)
Sean Franklin, while not one of the highest priced defenders or most popular players available on DraftKings, offers a lot of value at the defender position. He takes 0.39 shots and scores 0.07 goals per 90 minutes, which are not bad numbers for a fullback. Additionally, he averages 1.05 key passes and chances created per 90 minutes to go along with 0.33 fouls drawn per 90 minutes, which are above-average statistics for a defender. He averages 6.5 FPPG to provide a dollar/fantasy point value of $707.69. For the cherry on top, he is facing the less-than-stellar offense of the San Jose Earthquakes, which will only add to his value.
Marcel De Jong, Sporting KC ($4,200)
Marcel De Jong's status is always a bit of a mystery, considering there is a fairly good chance he will not see the field for the full 90 minutes every game. However, when he does play, he makes the most of the opportunity. He averages 1.54 shots and 1.19 key passes per 90 minutes, which are statistics that would be acceptable for a midfielder, much less about a defender. He provides a dollar/fantasy point value of $666.67, and provided goalkeeper Tim Melia has a great game against Columbus (he has been playing very well of late, though Columbus does have a strong offense), then De Jong is all the more likely to provide high value at the defender position.
DFS Soccer Midfielders for DraftKings
Javier Morales - Real Salt Lake ($9,100)
Javier Morales of Real Salt Lake has been a fixture in my weekly article about high-value options for MLS DraftKings contests, and for good reason: he consistently provides high value every time he sees the field. He attempts 3.79 key passes and has 0.41 assists per 90 minutes to go along with 2.71 fouls drawn per 90 minutes. He averages 1.98 shots per 90 minutes with 59% accuracy, so when he does shoot, it is more likely than not that the shot is on goal, meaning he has earned another fantasy point. He is a safe play and provides a dollar/fantasy point value of $722.22 (he averages 12.6 FPPG). Morales will have to work to get shot opportunities against the stingy Seattle Sounders defense, but nevertheless is a high value option at midfielder.
Marco Delgado - Toronto FC ($5,000)
Buyer beware: While Marco Delgado presents high value at the midfielder position, there is also a high risk associated with this choice. He has an extremely low price tag which helps in part to mitigate his lack production when compared to his fellow high value counterparts (7.3 FPPG). He shoots 1.34 shots per 90 minutes with 51% accuracy, and averages a meager 1.22 key passes per 90 minutes. He provides a value of dollar/fantasy point value $684.93, which is excellent for a defender. If you are short on cap space but want to pack in a high value player, then Marco Delgado is your man. Otherwise, proceed cautiously—there is a reason why he is priced so low.
DFS Soccer Forwards for DraftKings
Obafemi Martins - Seattle Sounders ($9,500)
Now that Martins’ Draftkings stock has come back to Earth (he was $10,900 a few weeks ago), he is now an extremely high value and affordable option at the forward position. He shoots 2.11 shots per 90 minutes with a stellar 64% accuracy rate to go along with 2.40 fouls drawn per 90 minutes. His assist and cross numbers are average at 0.17 and 0.79 per 90 minutes, respectively, but at 15.0 FPPG, he still produces enough to get the job done. He provides a value of $633.33 per fantasy point, which for a forward in Draftkings is an exceptionally high value.
Clint Dempsey - Seattle Sounders ($10,000)
For forwards in DraftKings contests, stacking, which is a strategy where one selects multiple players from the same team in hopes that if one player generates fantasy points, other players on his team will also rack up points as well as a direct result of the former’s play, can be very effective. Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins directly complement each other, so if you can somehow manage to snag both on your roster, kudos to you. Dempsey scores 0.55 goals/90 minutes and takes 2.99 shots/90 minutes with 50% accuracy, which is outstanding for a forward. He creates 1.65 chances/90 minutes and draws 1.97 fouls/90 minutes, which are stellar statistics. With 14.5 FPPG, he provides a dollar/fantasy point value of $689.65. Against the porous defense of Real Salt Lake (38 goals allowed). Dempsey and Martins should have a field day.
DFS Flex Position for DraftKings
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia Union ($7,400)
Sapong's value has been steadily rising over the past few games, and he is surprisingly inexpensive for the output he produces. He averages 9.7 FPPG and provides a value of $762.88 per fantasy point. He attempts 2.54 shots per 90 minutes with 52% accuracy and draws an outstanding 2.47 penalties per 90 minutes. If you are looking for a safe, inexpensive high value option at the Flex position, then look no further than CJ Sapong.
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